You're right and I would have realized that if I hadn't been so out of it. Just kidding. Actually, the reason I wasn't thinking about impairment is that it's not a problem for me. (At least not due to the pain meds).

Either the painkillers don't effect me as much that way or it's the minimum doses I take or both. Good point though because I know other people are affected differently and need more of the meds and stronger meds than I do to make their lives bearable.

I don't know if the way I take my meds would work for others, but I cut the pills into fourths and take 1/4 at a time, give it a few minutes to work & take another 1/4 just as I am becoming uncomfortable with the level of pain. I do not take enough painkiller to completely kill the pain. I shoot for bearable because I have to be able to concentrate intensely at my job. Smaller doses taken more often is what it amounts to. It's a tradeoff.

Also, it may not be safe to cut open all types of pain meds. I only do this with the hydro/APAP, and I don't crush it. I think that taking the smaller doses spread out helps slow down development of tolerance.